Create a mosaic dataset

Available with Standard or Advanced license.

Mosaic datasets are used to manage, display, serve, and share raster data. When you create a mosaic dataset, it is created as an empty container in the geodatabase with some default properties. Then raster data can be added to the mosaic dataset.

Note:

You must have write access to that geodatabase.

To create and populate a mosaic dataset, using the Catalog pane, complete the following steps:

1. Create the mosaic dataset.
   1. In the Catalog pane, locate the geodatabase where you want to save the mosaic dataset. To create a new file geodatabase, right-click the Databases folder and select New File Geodatabase.
   2. Right-click the geodatabase, point to New, and select Create Mosaic Dataset.

      The Create Mosaic Dataset tool opens. The output location will be the geodatabase you selected.

   3. Give the mosaic dataset a name.
   4. Select an appropriate coordinate system for the mosaic dataset. Use the drop-down menu, and choose the coordinate system of the output mosaic dataset, which can match the coordinate system of any of the layers already in the Contents pane.
   5. Optionally, select a Product Definition. ArcGIS Pro supports the most commonly used sensors. Select the type of imagery you are working with from the list and ArcGIS Pro will use information in the metadata of your imagery to intelligently manage it. Selecting a product definition will automatically populate the fields for the specifications of each band.
   6. In the Pixel Properties section, optionally, set the Number of Bands parameter and define the Pixel Type bit depth for your imagery.

   The empty mosaic dataset is created once you run the tool. Next, you will add your imagery to the mosaic dataset.

2. Add imagery to an empty mosaic dataset using the Add Rasters To Mosaic Dataset tool to populate a mosaic dataset.
   1. From the Catalog pane, right-click the mosaic dataset you just created and select Add Rasters.

      The Add Rasters To Mosaic Dataset tool will open with many parameters already populated, such as the Mosaic Dataset name, the Raster Type, and the Processing Template parameters.

   2. For the Input Data parameter, select a folder, an individual raster, or a set of rasters. If the folder was selected, every raster of the specified raster type in that folder will be added to the mosaic dataset. Under the Advanced Input Data Options section, the Include the Sub Folders check box may need to be checked if the data is in subfolders.
   3. The rest of the fields are optional and pertain to creating overviews, pyramids, and calculating statistics. These options are dependent on the type of data you have and the kinds of analysis you want to perform.

When you add a mosaic dataset to the view, it will be added as a custom group layer. By default, you will see a Boundary, Footprint, and Image layer.